Antimicrobial capture system with carbon container

ABSTRACT

According to one embodiment, a method for removing antimicrobial material from a composition includes providing a container that contains a plurality of carbon elements such as granules, rocks and sheets. The carbon elements are submerged with a liquid and a composition that includes an antimicrobial material is deposited in the container. The carbon elements are configured to remove the antimicrobial material from the composition. The level of the liquid in the container is monitored and controlled to maintain a submerged condition of the carbon elements.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/625,096, filed Jun. 16, 2017, U.S. Pat. No. 10,065,869,which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/174,264,filed Jun. 6, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,708,198, which is a continuationof U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/886,812, filed Oct. 19, 2015, nowU.S. Pat. No. 9,380,797, which claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/122,591, filed Oct. 24, 2014 the entire disclosuresof which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to antimicrobials, and more particularly to anantimicrobial capture system.

BACKGROUND

Typically, an antimicrobial application system may be used to apply anantimicrobial composition to one or more items, such as poultrycarcasses. Disposal of the antimicrobial composition, however, may beproblematic because the antimicrobials included in the antimicrobialcomposition may prevent the antimicrobial composition from beingdisposed of in a traditional manner, such as a wastewater system.Various antimicrobial capture systems have been utilized to removeantimicrobials from the antimicrobial composition prior to disposal.These typical antimicrobial capture systems, however, may be deficient.

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment, a container for removing antimicrobialsfrom an antimicrobial composition includes a container body having anexterior and an interior. The container body interior is at leastpartially filled with a plurality of carbon granules configured toremove a portion of the antimicrobials in the antimicrobial composition.The plurality of carbon granules at least partially fill the containerbody interior to a fill height of the container body. The container bodyinterior is further filled with a liquid to at least a level thatcompletely submerges each of the plurality of carbon granules. Theliquid includes an amount of an initial liquid, an amount of theantimicrobial composition, or both. The container also includes anagitator positioned at a bottom of the container body interior. Theagitator is configured to agitate at least a portion of the plurality ofcarbon granules by producing air bubbles in the liquid. The containerfurther includes a drain positioned within the container body interiorand configured to drain liquid out of the container body interior. Thecontainer further includes a stand pipe coupled to the container bodyexterior and further coupled to the drain. The stand pipe extends in avertical direction along the container body exterior. The stand pipe isconfigured to receive the liquid from the drain and redirect the liquidin the vertical direction along the container body exterior. Thecontainer further includes a drainage valve coupled to the stand pipe.The drainage valve is located at a position that is vertically above thefill height of the container body to which the plurality of carbongranules fill the container body interior. The drainage valve isconfigured to drain liquid received in the stand pipe. The location ofthe drainage valve is configured to prevent the drainage valve fromlowering a current level of the liquid below the level that completelysubmerges each of the plurality of carbon granules. The containerfurther includes a container lid removably coupled to the containerbody. The container lid is configured to seal the container, andincludes an inlet for receiving the antimicrobial composition.

Certain embodiments of the disclosure may provide one or more technicaladvantages. For example, the carbon granules included in the containerbody interior may be completely submerged by the liquid for a particularamount of time, such as throughout the operation of the container. Inparticular embodiments, by keeping the carbon granules completelysubmerged by the liquid, the useful life of the carbon granules may beextended by, for example, reducing (or at least partially preventing)the carbon granules from drying out and/or reducing (or at leastpartially preventing) channeling of the carbon granules. As anotherexample, the carbon granules may be agitated by, for example, anagitator. In particular embodiments, this may reduce (or at leastpartially prevent) blinding and/or reduce (or at least partiallyprevent) channeling of the carbon granules. As a further example, thecarbon granules in the container may be recycled (or reanimated)following a determination that the carbon granules may no longer beremoving the antimicrobials from the antimicrobial composition. Inparticular embodiments, such a recycling ability may reduce the costsassociated with the carbon granules.

Certain embodiments of the disclosure may include none, some, or all ofthe above technical advantages. One or more other technical advantagesmay be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the figures,descriptions, and claims included herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and itsfeatures and advantages, reference is now made to the followingdescription, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an antimicrobial system;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of a portion of an antimicrobial recyclesystem;

FIG. 3A is a side elevation view of an example antimicrobial capturesystem;

FIG. 3B is a schematic view of an example antimicrobial capture system;

FIG. 3C is a top view of an example container body interior of anexample antimicrobial capture system;

FIG. 3D is a top view of an example container lid of an exampleantimicrobial capture system; and

FIG. 3E is a bottom view of an example container lid of an exampleantimicrobial capture system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure are best understood by referringto FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings, like numerals being used for like andcorresponding parts of the various drawings.

Antimicrobial System

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an example antimicrobial system 10. Asillustrated, the antimicrobial system 10 includes an antimicrobialapplication system 12, an antimicrobial recycle system 14, and anantimicrobial capture system 15.

The antimicrobial application system 12 may be configured to apply anantimicrobial composition to one or more work pieces 20. For example,the antimicrobial application system 12 may be configured to apply anantimicrobial composition to one or more raw poultry carcasses. Theantimicrobial application system 10 may be any apparatus or system forapplying an antimicrobial composition to one or more work pieces 20. Forexample, the antimicrobial application system 12 may take the generalform of one of the embodiments of a spray application system asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,742,720, issued Jun. 1, 2004 and entitled“Spray Application System,” the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference. Furthermore, the liquid barriers described in U.S.Pat. No. 6,742,720 may not (or may) be utilized in the antimicrobialapplication system 12, in particular embodiments. The antimicrobialapplication system 12 is not limited to those embodiments discussed indetail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,742,720, or to spray application systems ingeneral.

The antimicrobial application system 12 may apply a composition such asan antimicrobial composition to any number of different kinds and typesof work pieces 20 in any number of different ways. Methods ofapplication used by the antimicrobial application system 12 may include,but are not limited to, spraying, misting, fogging, immersing, pouring,dripping, any other method of application, or any combination of thepreceding. The antimicrobial composition may include one or moreantimicrobials. An antimicrobial may be any type of antimicrobial fortreating (or otherwise being applied to) work pieces 20 (such as, forexample, poultry carcasses). For example, the antimicrobial may be aquaternary ammonium compound, an alkylpyridinium chloride, acetylpyridinium chloride, any other antimicrobial for treating (orotherwise being applied to) work pieces 20, or any combination of thepreceding.

The system 10 may be used to treat a wide variety of different workpieces 20, including, but not limited to, meat, poultry, fish, fresh andsalt water seafood, fruits, vegetables, other foodstuffs, animals, foodpackaging, items and surfaces related to food or food processing, or anycombination of the preceding. The work pieces 20 may be live, dead, raw,hide-on, carcass, pieces, cooked, prepared, processed, partiallyprocessed, ready to eat, ready to cook, or any combination of thepreceding. Furthermore, the system 10 may be used to treat work pieces20 completely unrelated to food or food processing items.

According to the illustrated embodiment, the antimicrobial applicationsystem 12 includes a conveyor 16 that may pass through a housing 18 formoving work pieces 20, such as raw poultry, through the housing 18. Asdescribed in more detail below, a drip tray or pan 22 may extenddownstream of the housing 18, disposed below the conveyor 16 and thework pieces 20 carried thereby. A rigid member 24, such as stainlesssteel tubing, may be affixed to the housing 18, such as at a downstreamend of the housing 18. The rigid member 24 may have parallel arms thatare aligned on opposite sides of the conveyor line 16. A series ofmatching openings may be provided in each arm for housing counters orsensors. Protective lenses may provide watertight seals, such as, forexample, National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) 4 seals,to protect the counters from damage that might otherwise occur under theharsh wash-down conditions to which the systems 10 are routinelysubjected. In particular embodiments, three counters may be provided inseries. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the arms may be disposed so that thecounters are aligned to detect the presence or absence of work pieces20. The use of three counters may provide redundancy and increaseaccuracy, in particular embodiments. In that regard, the counters may beoperably connected to a controller such as a central control unit 32,and the counts taken by the counters (such as, for example, threecounters) may be continuously compared. In such embodiments, if onecounter provides a reading or count that differs from that provided bythe other two counters, the central control unit 32 may be programmed todisregard the reading of the inconsistent counter and rely instead uponthe readings of the other two counters. Furthermore, the logic andinterpretation of the different readings may be modified in any manner.

The antimicrobial recycle system 14 may be configured to produce theantimicrobial composition. For example, the antimicrobial recycle system14 may be configured to produce the antimicrobial composition at apredetermined concentration. The antimicrobial recycle system 14 may befurther configured to supply the antimicrobial composition to theantimicrobial application system 12. Additionally, the antimicrobialrecycle system 14 may be further configured to receive unused portionsof the antimicrobial composition, recycle the unused portions of theantimicrobial composition, and re-supply the recycled antimicrobialcomposition to the antimicrobial application system 12.

In particular embodiments, the antimicrobial recycle system 14 mayproduce the antimicrobial composition by diluting a concentratedantimicrobial composition (or solution) using, for example, water (orany other solubility enhancing agents) to obtain a dilute antimicrobialcomposition (or solution) with a particular concentration (such as apredetermined concentration), and may further provide the diluteantimicrobial composition to the antimicrobial application system 12. Anantimicrobial source, such as a supply tank 34, may be connected to thehousing 18 via an antimicrobial supply line or conduit 36. A chemicalfeed pump 38 may be disposed in the antimicrobial supply line 36. Thepump 38 may be operably connected to a controller 40, as is discussed indetail below. The antimicrobial composition may include one or moreantimicrobials. An antimicrobial may be any type of antimicrobial fortreating (or otherwise being applied to) work pieces 20 (such as, forexample, poultry carcasses). For example, the antimicrobial may be aquaternary ammonium compound, an alkylpyridinium chloride, acetylpyridinium chloride, any other antimicrobial for treating (orotherwise being applied to) work pieces 20, or any combination of thepreceding. The concentrated antimicrobial composition may be aconcentrated solution of a quaternary ammonium compound as described inU.S. Pat. No. 6,864,269, issued Mar. 8, 2005 to Cesar Compadre(“Compadre et al.”) and entitled “Concentrated, non-foaming solution ofquaternary ammonium compounds and methods of use,” the disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference. In particular embodiments,the concentrated solution comprises one or more antimicrobials and oneor more solubility enhancing agents (such as, for example, propyleneglycol). The quaternary ammonium compound may be present in theconcentrated solution in a weight percent of, for example, approximately40%, and the solubility enhancing agent may be present in theconcentrated solution in a weight percent of, for example, approximately60%. For the diluted antimicrobial composition, the quaternary ammoniumcompound may be present in the diluted antimicrobial composition in aweight percent of, for example, approximately 0.1% (i.e., 0.1%+/−0.09%)to approximately 1.0% (i.e., 1.0%+/−0.09%). Any number of differentantimicrobials and solubility enhancing agents may be used for theantimicrobial composition, and the concentrated and dilute compositionsmay have any number of different components and compositions, includingbut not limited to the components and compositions of the concentratedand dilute compositions disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,864,269 (Compadreet al.). In particular embodiments, concerns of adulteration,contamination, or cross-contamination may be eliminated or alleviatedbecause of the broad-spectrum efficacy of the example antimicrobialcompositions and because of the filtration and automatic concentrationmeasures.

The antimicrobial recycle system 14 may further include one or morerecycle tanks 42. A return line or conduit 44 may extend between thehousing 18 and the recycle tank 42 for passing liquid from the housing18 to the tank 42. In particular embodiments, multiple return lines 44may be used to connect multiple antimicrobial application systems 12 tothe recycle tanks 42. A filter 46 may be disposed in the housing 18 orin the return line 44. The filter 46 may be a wire mesh filter, such asa 100 mesh filter, sized to capture visible particulate matter in theeffluent (e.g., liquid waste) from the antimicrobial application system12. Visible particulate matter in the effluent may be minimal because ofupstream washing that may be performed on the work pieces 20. First andsecond filters 48 and 50 may be associated with each tank 42 and may bedisposed between the tank 42 and a system pump 52 to provide forparallel flow between the tank 42 and the system pump 52. Valves 54(shown in FIG. 2, which illustrates a side elevation view of a portionof an antimicrobial recycle system 14) or other means may be providedfor selectively directing liquid passing from the tank 42 to the systempump 52 through either the first filter 48 or the second filter 50. Inparticular embodiments, this may allow the system 10 to continueoperating while one of the filters 48 or 50 is being cleaned, replaced,and/or repaired. A three-way valve 56 may be disposed in conduit 58, asis discussed below. A purge or capture line 60 may pass from the valve56 to the capture tank 62. A capture pump 64 may be disposed in captureline 60. Although the recycle tank 42 may include an impeller or someother stirring or agitation means, in particular embodiments, no suchstirring or agitation means may be used. A feed line 66 may pass fromthe system pump 52 to the housing 18 and may be connected to one or moresprayers 68. Multiple feed lines 66 may be used, or the feed line 66 maybe branched or divided to connect the recycle tank 42 to multipleantimicrobial application systems 12. A bypass conduit 70 having arelief valve 72 may be disposed in the feed line 66. Furthermore, adiverting line 74 may be disposed in the feed line 66. The divertingline 74 may be connected to a dilution pump 78 and have a pressureregulator 80 disposed therein.

A source of potable water 82, such as tap water, may be connected to therecycle tank 42 via water supply line or conduit 84. A diverting line 86may also be disposed in water supply line 84. The diverting line 86 maybe connected to a dilution pump 88 and have a pressure regulator 90disposed therein. The pressure regulators 80 and 90 may regulate thepressure in lines 74 and 86 to a pressure lower than the pressures inlines 66 and 84. For example, the pressure regulators 80 and 90 mayregulate the pressure in lines 74 and 86 to approximately 15 psig. Thedilution pumps 78 and 88 may be electrically interlocked to provide formatched, stroke for stroke pumping action. The dilution pumps 78 and 88may also be sized to provide for a desired, fixed dilution ratio. Thedilution ratio may be less than or equal to approximately 1 part dilutecomposition to 1 part water, less than or equal to approximately 1 partdilute composition to 30 parts water, less than or equal toapproximately 1 part dilute composition to 60 parts water, or any otherdilution ratio. Conduits 92 and 94 may exit the dilution pumps 78 and 88and may be disposed to route liquids from the dilution pumps 78 and 88to a static mixer 96. The static mixer 96 may be type of static mixer,such as an inline, auger style static mixer.

A sensor 98 may be disposed at the discharge end of the static mixer 96.The sensor 98 may be configured to detect the concentration of theantimicrobial in the composition (or solution) exiting the static mixer96. The sensor 98 may be any number of different types of sensorsincluding, but not limited to, infrared, visible light, or ultravioletsensors. For example, the sensor 98 may be an ultraviolet lightspectrophotometer or UV spec sensor. A controller 40 may operablyconnect the sensor 98 to the chemical feed pump 38. The controller 40may be configured to receive a signal from the sensor 98 and send acorresponding on/off signal to the chemical feed pump 38. A dischargeline 100 may pass from the sensor 98 to the capture or purge tank 62.

A siphon 102 may be disposed in the capture tank 62 and may be connectedto a drain line 104. The drain line 104 may passes from the capture tank62 to an antimicrobial separation unit 106. The antimicrobial separationunit 106 may include one or more filters 108 or filter units eachcomprising a container dimensioned to retain a volume of filtermaterial, such as disposable carbon filters, that may selectively removethe antimicrobial from the composition. A disposal line 110 may exit theantimicrobial separation unit 106 for disposing of water and any othercomponents remaining after the antimicrobial is selectively removed. Aseparation unit 106 may or may not be used, and any number of differentseparation methods may be used. Furthermore, filters 108 may bedisposable or reusable.

The central control unit 32 may be used to control the entire system 10.The central control unit 32 may perform various tasks or functions inassociation with operation of the system 10. For example, the centralcontrol unit 32 may be operatively associated with system processes tocollect, process, and/or communicate data indicative of operationalstates, system conditions, triggering events, component functions,events, or other data. One or more sensors, such as sensor 98, may beoperatively associated with the central control unit 32 to detect and toprovide signals indicative of system operation conditions or conditionsin connection with operation of the system 10, for example. In oneembodiment, the central control unit 32 may be programmed to activate,deactivate, or modulate system pumps or valves, to receive, transmit,and/or process data signals in communication with one or more componentsof the system 10, and/or to process or analyze data communicated fromone or more sensors operatively associated with various units of thesystem. For example, the sensor 98 or another sensor may be configuredto detect contaminants or other aspects of fluid composition associatedwith the fluid recycled through the system 10. The central control unitmay include one or more processors or computer systems programmed withsoftware, firmware, or other computer-executable instructions to performthe various functions of the control module. The central control unit 32may be operatively associated with one or more data transmission devicesthat may be configured to receive and/or store data received orprocessed by the central control unit 32. In certain embodiments, thecentral control unit 32 may communicate signals to one or moreindicators that may reflect the activity or function of differentaspects of the system 10. For example, one such indicator may include awarning light, or an alert graphical display associated with a local orremote plant monitor.

In an example embodiment of operation, a dilute antimicrobialcomposition may be prepared and used for one antimicrobial applicationcycle (such as a spray cycle) that may, for example, last for one day(or any other time period). The dilute antimicrobial composition maythen be discarded, disposed of, and/or removed from the system 10 forfurther processing. The system 10 may be operated in batch mode, insteady-state mode, or in any number of different types or combinationsof modes of operation. A new antimicrobial application cycle may begineach morning (or at any other time) with an empty and clean recycle tank42 and an empty and clean capture tank 62. Before the antimicrobialapplication system 12 is activated, and before the system pump 52 isturned on, the dilute antimicrobial composition may be prepared. In thatregard, a desired amount of tap water may be fed to the recycle tank 42.The recycle tank 42 may be filled to approximately one third toapproximately one half of its capacity with potable water. Theconcentration pump 38 may be activated to feed the concentratedantimicrobial composition to the housing 18, where it drains throughreturn conduit 44, and to the recycle tank 42, until a predeterminedamount of the concentrate composition is provided. The concentratecomposition combines with the water in the recycle tank 42 to form adilute solution having a predetermined concentration. The desired rangesof the concentration of antimicrobial in the dilute solution include butare not limited to the concentration ranges of the antimicrobial in thedilute solutions disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,864,269 (Compadre et al.).

Once the desired concentration is obtained in the recycle tank 42, thesystem pump 52 may be activated, and the dilute antimicrobialcomposition may be supplied to the antimicrobial application system 12.The dilute antimicrobial composition provided to the antimicrobialapplication system 12 may not be potable. Still, contamination orcross-contamination of the work pieces 20 may not be a concern becauseof the safety and broad spectrum efficacy of the dilute antimicrobialcomposition used. The antimicrobial recycle system 14 may supply thedilute antimicrobial composition to the antimicrobial application unitor units 12 at any number of different flow rates and pressures. Theseflow rates and pressures may include, but are not limited to, the flowrates and pressures discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,742,720. The bypassconduit 70 and relief valve 72 may route a portion of the diluteantimicrobial composition to a lower portion of the housing 18 so thatit does not pass through the sprayers 68 and is not applied to the workpieces 20. In particular embodiments, the ratio of dilute compositionpassing through the bypass conduit 70 versus passing to the sprayers 68may be greater than or equal to approximately 1:1, greater than or equalto approximately 2:1, or may be any other ratio. The diluteantimicrobial composition passing through the bypass conduit 70 mayprovide for improved mixing of the captured antimicrobial compositionand any concentrate antimicrobial composition that might be added. Theuse of the bypass conduit 70 and relief valve 72 may provide greaterflexibility in providing dilute antimicrobial composition to sprayers 68at or within desired pressure ranges. The use of the bypass conduit 70and relief valve 72 may also make it easier to continue to providedilute antimicrobial composition to the sprayers 68 at a consistentpressure as additional antimicrobial application systems 12 are broughtonline or taken offline and regardless of the number of antimicrobialapplication systems 12 that are online.

Once the antimicrobial recycle system 14 is supplying the diluteantimicrobial composition to the antimicrobial application system 12,the work pieces 20 to be processed (such as raw poultry) may be moved bythe conveyor 16, through the housing 18, and the dilute antimicrobialcomposition may be applied to the work pieces 20, such as by spraying.The portion of the dilute antimicrobial composition that does not adhereto the work pieces 20 (e.g., unused portions of the antimicrobialcomposition) may collect in a drain and be returned via return line 44,through filter 46, and to the recycling tank 42 for recycling and reuse.The length of the drip tray 22 may be selected so that it will catchdrops from work pieces 20 exiting the housing 18 for approximately 1minute (or any other amount of time) after the work pieces 20 exit thehousing 18. This may enhance the recovery of the dilute antimicrobialcomposition and reduce downstream losses. In particular embodiments,liquid barriers such as water spray curtains may be used in the housing18. Also, the work pieces 20 may be wet from upstream washing, soadditional water may enter the recycle tank 42, decreasing theconcentration of the antimicrobial in the dilute antimicrobialcomposition.

In particular embodiments, it may be desirable to avoid concentrationspikes in the dilute antimicrobial composition, particularly in thedilute antimicrobial composition exiting the sprayers 68 and passingthrough the diverting line 74 for routing to sensor 98. Accordingly,steps may be taken to insure thorough mixing of the dilute antimicrobialcomposition being recycled between the antimicrobial recycle system 14and the antimicrobial application system 12. This may be one reason whythe concentrate supply line 36 may route the concentrated antimicrobialcomposition to the housing 18 rather than directly to the recycle tank42. By the time the concentrate antimicrobial composition mixes withdilute antimicrobial compositions from the sprayers 68 and from thebypass line 70, passes through return line 44, filter 44, recycle tank42, filter 48 or 50, and system pump 52, the resultant liquid may bethoroughly mixed and have a relatively uniform composition.

A sensor 98, such as a spectrophotometer, may be used to measure verylow concentrations of a component in a composition. It therefore may beadvantageous to provide a liquid that has not only has a relativelyuniform composition but also a very low concentration of theantimicrobial or component to be measured. Often, it may not bepractical or feasible to obtain accurate, reliable readings for theantimicrobial at the concentration ranges typically found in the recycletank 42. Diluting the composition before taking a concentration readingmay offer greater flexibility in the selection of a sensor 98 formonitoring the concentration of the antimicrobial. Samples of theantimicrobial composition exiting the recycle tank 42 may therefore betaken and further diluted, to yield further diluted antimicrobialcompositions in which the antimicrobial is present within aconcentration range that may be readily and accurately measured by thesensor 98. The dilution ratio of the dilution pumps 78 and 88 may beselected to provide the desired degree of dilution, such as within theranges discussed above. The pumps 78 and 88 may be set on a timer totake samples at a set interval, each sample being taken for a setduration of time. The concentration may be monitored at any number ofdifferent intervals and for any number of different durations. Inparticular embodiments, the concentration may be continuously monitored.The electrically interlocked pumps 78 and 88 may provide the diluteantimicrobial composition and water in the desired fixed ratio tofurther dilute the dilute antimicrobial composition. Using electricallyinterlocked pumps at a desired, fixed dilution ratio may, in particularembodiments, simplify controls needed to operate the system 10.Furthermore, the pumps may not be interlocked, the dilution ratio maynot be fixed, and any number of different methods may be used to select,control, and adjust the dilution ratio as desired.

The dilute antimicrobial composition and water may be combined andpassed through the static mixer 96 to provide for thorough mixing,further reducing the risk of concentration spikes as the liquid passesthe sensor 98. The sensor 98 may sense the concentration of theantimicrobial in the passing liquid. The sensor 98 may be operablyconnected to the controller 40. Accordingly, if the sensor 98 detectsthat the concentration of antimicrobial falls below a desired amount (orbelow a predetermined amount), the controller 40 may activate thechemical feed pump 38 to add more of the concentrated antimicrobialcomposition into the housing 18 and to bring the concentration of theantimicrobial in the dilute antimicrobial composition back up to thedesired (or predetermined) level. In particular embodiments, the system10 may be configured to allow the potable water to be controlled in this(or similar) fashion as well.

In particular embodiments, it may be undesirable to route the highlydiluted liquid that passes the sensor 98 back into the recycle tank 42,so it may be routed to the capture tank 62. The siphon 102 in thecapture tank 62 may allow the liquid to collect in the capture tank 62,until the liquid reaches a desired level. When the liquid in the capturetank 62 reaches the desired level, the siphon 102 may empty the capturetank 62, passing the liquid through conduit 104 and to the disposablecarbon filters 108 of the antimicrobial separation unit 106. Thedisposable filters 108 may capture the antimicrobial to selectivelyremove the antimicrobial from the antimicrobial composition. Using thesiphon 102 may reduce or eliminate channeling problems that mightotherwise arise if the liquid were allowed to continuously drip from thecapture tank 62 onto the carbon filters 108.

At the end of a predetermined amount of time (such as at the end of anapplication cycle, a shift, a day, or any other amount of time) or atthe desire of an operator of system 10, the valve 56 may be actuated todivert the dilute antimicrobial composition received from the recycletank 42 to the capture pump 64, so as to discard the antimicrobialcomposition. The capture pump 64 may empty the recycle tank 42 and passthe discarded antimicrobial composition to the capture tank 62. When theliquid reaches a desired level in the capture tank 62, the siphon 102may route the liquid through conduit 104 and to the disposable carbonfilters 108 of the antimicrobial separation unit 106. The disposablefilters 108 may capture the antimicrobial to selectively remove theantimicrobial from the solution. When the antimicrobial impregnateddisposable filters 108 are spent, they may then be disposed of in anappropriate manner, such as by incineration or disposal at an approvedlandfill. The remaining, relatively antimicrobial-free liquid may thenbe disposed of in an appropriate manner, such as by being drained into awastewater system of a plant. The frequency with which the antimicrobialcomposition may be discarded may depend upon any number of factors, suchas the number of work pieces 20 to be processed by the antimicrobialapplication system 12 and the volume of the dilute antimicrobialcomposition required to charge the system 10 at the beginning of anapplication cycle. A periodic purge of the system 10 may typically beused. Although the discarded antimicrobial composition has beendescribed above as being dumped (or otherwise directed) from theantimicrobial recycle system 14 into the antimicrobial capture system15, the antimicrobial composition may be dumped (or otherwise directed)from either (or both) the antimicrobial application system 12 or theantimicrobial recycle system 14 into the antimicrobial capture system15.

Antimicrobial Capture System

FIGS. 3A-3E illustrate another example of an antimicrobial capturesystem 115. The antimicrobial capture system 115 may be configured foruse with any system that utilizes (or otherwise applies) anantimicrobial composition (such as the systems described above withregard to FIGS. 1-2), and may be configured to capture all or a portionof the antimicrobial component of the antimicrobial composition. Forexample, at the end of a predetermined amount of time (such as at theend of an application cycle, a shift, a day, or any other amount oftime) or at the desire of an operator of system 10, the system 10 may bepurged of remaining portions of the antimicrobial composition (e.g., thediscarded portions of the antimicrobial composition). The antimicrobialcapture system 115 may remove a portion of the antimicrobials from thereceived antimicrobial composition. The remaining portions of thediscarded antimicrobial composition (which may be relativelyantimicrobial-free) may then be disposed of in an appropriate manner,such as by being drained into a wastewater system of a plant.

As illustrated, the antimicrobial capture system 115 may include one ormore containers 120 for removing antimicrobials from an antimicrobialcomposition. A container 120 may include any type of container forholding liquid, such as a drum, a tank, a cistern, a barrel, any othercontainer, or any combination of the preceding. As illustrated, thecontainer 120 is a drum. The container 120 may have any size. Forexample, the container 120 may be a container that may hold 50 gallonsof liquid, 100 gallons of liquid, 200 gallons of liquid, 300 gallons ofliquid, 500 gallons of liquid, or any other amount of liquid. Asillustrated, the container 120 is a drum that can hold 330 gallons ofliquid (e.g., a 330 gallon drum). The container 120 may also have anyshape. For example, the container may be a cylinder, a cube, arectangular prism, a triangular prism, an irregular shape, any othershape, or any combination of the preceding. The antimicrobial capturesystem 115 may include any number of containers 120. For example, theantimicrobial capture system 115 may include one container 120, twocontainers 120, three containers 120, five containers 120, tencontainers 120, or any other number of containers 120. As illustrated,the antimicrobial capture system 115 includes only a single container120. In particular embodiments, the number of containers 120 included inthe antimicrobial capture system 115 may be based on the number ofantimicrobial application systems 12 being used with the antimicrobialcapture system 115. For example, if two antimicrobial applicationsystems 12 are being used with the antimicrobial capture system 115, forexample, the antimicrobial capture system 115 may include two containers120 (e.g., a single container 120 for each antimicrobial applicationsystem 12).

The container 120 may include a container body 125 and a container lid140. The container body 125 may have a container body exterior 130 and acontainer body interior 135. The container body interior 135 may befilled with carbon granules 145. The carbon granules 145 may beconfigured to remove a portion of the antimicrobials in theantimicrobial composition. For example, the carbon granules 145 may beconfigured to absorb (or otherwise remove) a portion of the quaternaryammonium compound, the alkylpyridinium chloride, the cetylpyridiniumchloride, or any other antimicrobial from the antimicrobial composition.The carbon granules 145 may be configured to remove any portion of theantimicrobials in the antimicrobial composition. In particularembodiments, the carbon granules 145 may be configured to remove asufficient amount of the antimicrobials from the antimicrobialcomposition to allow the remainder of the antimicrobial composition tobe properly disposed of in, for example, a wastewater system.

The container body interior 135 may be filled with any amount of carbongranules 145. For example, the container body interior 135 may be filledwith 100 pounds of carbon granules 145, 200 pounds of carbon granules145, 300 pounds of carbon granules 145, 500 pounds of carbon granules145, 600 pounds of carbon granules 145, 1,000 pounds of carbon granules145, or any other amount of carbon granules 145. As another example, thecontainer body interior 135 may be filled with approximately 100 poundsof carbon granules 145 (i.e., 100 pounds+/−10 pounds), approximately 200pounds of carbon granules 145, approximately 300 pounds of carbongranules 145, approximately 500 pounds of carbon granules 145,approximately 600 pounds of carbon granules 145, approximately 1,000pounds of carbon granules 145, or approximately any other amount ofcarbon granules 145.

In particular embodiments, the carbon granules 145 may fill thecontainer body interior 135 to a particular fill height 150 of thecontainer body 125. The fill height 150 of the container body 125 may belocated at any portion of the height 155 of the container body 125. Forexample, the fill height 150 may be located at % of the height 155 ofthe container body 125, ⅓ of the height 155 of the container body 125, ½of the height 155 of the container body 125, ⅔ of the height 155 of thecontainer body 125, ¾ of the height 155 of the container body 125, orany other portion of the height 155 of the container body 125. Asanother example, the fill height 150 may be located at approximately ¼of the height 155 of the container body 125 (i.e., ¼ of the height155+/−3 inches), approximately ⅓ of the height 155 of the container body125, approximately ½ of the height 155 of the container body 125,approximately ⅔ of the height 155 of the container body 125,approximately ¾ of the height 155 of the container body 125, orapproximately any other portion of the height 155 of the container body125.

Although the container body interior 135 has been described above asbeing filled with carbon granules 145 to a particular fill height 150 ofthe container body 125, in particular embodiments, the container bodyinterior 135 may alternatively (or additionally) be filled with carbongranules 145 to a particular volume of the container body 125. Forexample, the container body interior 135 may be filled with carbongranules 145 to ¼ of the volume of the container body 125, ⅓ of thevolume of the container body 125, ½ of the volume of the container body125, ⅔ of the volume of the container body 125, ¾ of the volume of thecontainer body 125, or any other portion of the volume of the containerbody 125. As another example, the container body interior 135 may befilled with carbon granules 145 to approximately ¼ of the volume of thecontainer body 125 (i.e., ¼ of the volume+/− 1/10 of the volume),approximately ⅓ of the volume of the container body 125, approximately ½of the volume of the container body 125, approximately ⅔ of the volumeof the container body 125, approximately ¾ of the volume of thecontainer body 125, or approximately any other portion of the volume ofthe container body 125.

Although the container body interior 135 has been described above asbeing filled with carbon granules 145, in particular embodiments, thecontainer body interior 135 may alternatively (or additionally) befilled with carbon in any other form(s), such as carbon rocks and/orcarbon sheets. Furthermore, the container body interior 135 mayalternatively (or additionally) be filled with any other element(s)configured to remove a portion of the antimicrobials in theantimicrobial composition.

The container body interior 135 may further be filled with a liquid 160.The liquid 160 may include any liquid that may be used in the removal ofantimicrobials from the antimicrobial composition. For example, theliquid 160 may include water (such as potable water), the antimicrobialcomposition (such as the discarded antimicrobial composition discussedabove), any other liquid that may be used in the removal ofantimicrobials from the antimicrobial composition, or any combination ofthe preceding. The composition of the liquid 160 may change over time.For example, prior to any antimicrobial composition being added to thecontainer 120, the liquid 160 may be entirely an initial liquid, such aswater. As another example, after the antimicrobial composition is addedto the container 120, the liquid 160 may be a combination of the initialliquid and the antimicrobial composition. As a further example, thepercentage of the initial liquid and the antimicrobial composition inthe liquid 160 may change as more of the antimicrobial composition isadded to the container 120, more of the initial liquid is added to thecontainer 120, and/or portions of the liquid 160 are removed from thecontainer 120.

The container body interior 135 may be filled with any amount of liquid160. For example, the container body interior 135 may be filled with 20gallons of liquid 160, 50 gallons of liquid 160, 100 gallons of liquid160, 120 gallons of liquid 160, 200 gallons of liquid 160, or any otheramount of liquid 160. As another example, the container body interior135 may be filled with approximately 20 gallons of liquid 160 (i.e., 20gallons+/−10 gallons), approximately 50 gallons of liquid 160,approximately 100 gallons of liquid 160, approximately 120 gallons ofliquid 160, approximately 200 gallons of liquid 160, or approximatelyany other amount of liquid 160. Furthermore, the amount of liquid 160filling the container body interior 135 may change over time.

In particular embodiments, the liquid 160 may fill the container bodyinterior 135 to at least a particular liquid level 165. The liquid level165 may be any level that completely submerges the carbon granules 145.For example, if carbon granules 145 fill the container body interior 135to a fill height 150 located at approximately ½ of the height 155 of thecontainer body 124, the liquid level 165 may be any level above theapproximately ½ of the height 155 of the container body 124, so as tocompletely submerge the carbon granules 145. In particular embodiments,the liquid 160 may completely submerge the carbon granules 145throughout the operation of the antimicrobial capture system 115. Forexample, once the container 120 is set up at, for example, a foodprocessing plant, the container 120 may be filled with the liquid 160 soas to completely submerge the carbon granules 145. In such an example,the liquid 160 may continue to completely submerge the carbon granules145 until the carbon granules 145 are no longer removing antimicrobialsfrom the antimicrobial composition. Then, the container 120 may becompletely cleaned out (removing both the carbon granules 145 and theliquid 160), and may be re-filled with carbon granules 145 and furtherre-filled with liquid 160 completely submerging the carbon granules 145.

In particular embodiments, by keeping the carbon granules 145 completelysubmerged by the liquid 160, the useful life of the carbon granules 145may be extended. For example, by keeping the carbon granules 145completely submerged by the liquid 160, the carbon granules may not dryout (or the amount of drying may be reduced or at least partiallyprevented), which may extend the useful life of the carbon granules 145.As another example, by keeping the carbon granules 145 completelysubmerged by the liquid 160, channeling of the carbon granules 145 maybe reduced (or at least partially prevented). In typical antimicrobialcapture systems, the antimicrobial composition may be poured onto drycarbon granules. This may, in particular embodiments, cause theantimicrobial composition to form channels in the dry carbon granuleswhich may prevent the entire dry carbon granule from being used toremove antimicrobials. That is, the typical dry carbon granules may beless effective. Contrary to this, by keeping the carbon granules 145completely submerged by the liquid 160, the antimicrobial compositionmay be poured into the liquid 160, as opposed to on dry carbon granules.As such, in particular embodiments, channeling in the carbon granules145 may be reduced (or at least partially prevented), which may increasethe useful life of the carbon granules 145.

The container body interior 135 may further include an agitator 170positioned at least partially within with the container body interior135. The agitator 170 may be configured to agitate at least a portion ofthe carbon granules 145. For example, the agitator 170 may be configuredto agitate at least a portion of the carbon granules 145 by producingair bubbles in the liquid 160. In such an example, these air bubbles maytravel upward through the liquid 160, disrupting (or otherwiseagitating) the carbon granules 145. In particular embodiments, theagitation may cause one or more (or all) of the carbon granules 145 toturn over and over. The agitator 170 may be any device configured toagitate at least a portion of the carbon granules 145. For example, theagitator 170 may be an air agitation hose, a vibrating device, animpeller, a propeller, any other device configured to agitate at least aportion of the carbon granules 145, or any combination of the preceding.As illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3E, the agitator 170 is an air agitation hose(or soaker hose) configured to receive compressed air (such ascompressed air at 60 pounds per square inch, or any other pressure), andfurther configured to release the compressed air through one or moreholes in the air agitation hose, thereby producing bubbles.

The agitator 170 may be positioned in any location within the containerbody interior 135 that may allow the agitator 170 to agitate at least aportion of the carbon granules 145. For example, the agitator 170 may bepositioned in the bottom of the container body interior 135, at the topof the container body interior 135, on one or more sides of thecontainer body interior 135, any other location, or any combination ofthe preceding. The agitator 170 may be positioned entirely within thecontainer body interior 135. Furthermore, the agitator 170 may bepositioned partially within the container body interior 135. In such anexample, a portion of the agitator 170 may be positioned outside of thecontainer 120, and may supply, for example, compressed air to theportion of the agitator positioned within the container body interior135. The agitator 170 may be arranged in (or have) a pattern that mayassist in agitating the carbon granules 145. For example, the agitator170 may be arranged in a spiral pattern (as illustrated in FIG. 3C), asquare pattern, a rectangular pattern, a circle pattern, an irregularpattern, any other pattern, or any combination of the preceding. Theagitator 170 may have any size. For example, as is illustrated in FIGS.3B-3C, the agitator 170 may be an air agitation hose with an outsidediameter of 0.5 inches, 0.75 inches, 1.0 inches, 1.25 inches, 1.50inches, 2 inches, 3 inches, or any other sized outside diameter.

The agitator 170 may agitate any portion of the carbon granules 145. Forexample, the agitator may agitate all of the carbon granules, ⅓ of thecarbon granules 145, ½ of the carbon granules 145, ⅔ of the carbongranules 145, only the carbon granules in the bottom half of thecontainer body interior 135, only the carbon granules in the top half ofthe container body interior 135, or any other portion of the carbongranules 145.

The agitator 170 may be operated manually and/or automatically. Forexample, the agitator 170 may be coupled to a control apparatus (e.g., ahandle, a lever, a pedal, a wheel, a button, or any other manual controlapparatus) that may allow an operator to manually activate the agitator170. As another example, the agitator 170 may be coupled to a timingsystem (not shown) that may allow the agitator 170 to be activatedautomatically and/or manually. The agitator 170 may be activated at anytime. For example, the agitator 170 may be activated immediately after aportion of antimicrobial composition is added to the container 120,immediately before a portion of the liquid 160 is removed from thecontainer 120 (via the drainage valve 185, discussed below),periodically (such as every 10 minutes, every 20 minutes, every halfhour, every hour, every 1.5 hours, every 2 hours, or any other timeperiod), after a predetermined amount of time, randomly, or anycombination of the preceding. The agitator 170 may be activated for anyamount of time. For example, the agitator 170 may be activated for 1minute, 2 minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes, a half hour, anhour, 1.5 hours, 2 hours, or any other time period. As another example,the agitator 170 may be activated for at least 5 minutes, at least 10minutes, at least 20 minutes, at least a half hour, at least an hour, orany other time period.

In particular embodiments, agitation of the carbon granules 145 mayreduce (or at least partially prevent) blinding. In typicalantimicrobial capture systems, biological components (such as emulsifiedfat from the poultry carcasses) included in the antimicrobialcomposition may bind to carbon granules. This binding may be referred toas blinding, and it may prevent the carbon granules from effectivelyremoving the antimicrobial from the antimicrobial composition. Contraryto this, agitating the carbon granules 145 may reduce (or at leastpartially prevent) such blinding. As such, in particular embodiments,the carbon granules 145 ability to remove antimicrobials may beincreased. Furthermore, in particular embodiments, agitation of thecarbon granules may reduce (or at least partially prevent) channeling ofthe carbon granules. As such, the agitation may increase the useful lifeof the carbon granules 145.

The container body interior 135 may further include a drain 175positioned within the container body interior 135. The drain 175 may beconfigured to drain at least a portion of the liquid 160 out of thecontainer body interior 135. The drain 175 may be any device configuredto drain at least a portion of the liquid 160 out of the container bodyinterior 135. For example, the drain 175 may be a pipe (made from, forexample, polyvinyl chloride (PVC)) having one or more perforations thatallow the liquid 160 to drain into the interior of the pipe. The drainmay have any size and/or shape. For example, the drain may be a pipewith an outside diameter of 0.5 inches, 0.75 inches, 1.0 inches, 1.25inches, 1.50 inches, 2 inches, 3 inches, 4 inches, 5 inches, 6 inches,or any other sized outside diameter.

The drain 175 may be positioned in any location within the containerbody interior 135 that may allow the drain 175 to drain the liquid 160from the container body interior 135. For example, the drain 175 may bepositioned in the bottom of the container body interior 135, on one ormore sides of the container body interior 135, any other location, orany combination of the preceding. In particular embodiments, the drain175 may be positioned in the bottom of the container body interior 135in a location that is vertically above the agitator 170 (such asadjacently above the agitator 170), as is illustrated in FIGS. 3B and3C.

The container 120 may further include a stand pipe 180 coupled to thecontainer body exterior 130 and further coupled to the drain 175. Thestand pipe 180 may extend in a vertical direction along the containerbody exterior 130, as is illustrated in FIG. 3B. Furthermore, the standpipe 180 may be configured to receive the liquid 160 from the drain 175,and redirect the liquid 160 in the vertical direction along thecontainer body exterior 130. The stand pipe 180 may be formed from anymaterial, may have any shape, and/or may have any size. The stand pipe180 may extend in the vertical direction along the container bodyexterior 130 in any manner. For example, the stand pipe 180 may be astraight pipe that extends only (or primarily) in the verticaldirection, an angled pipe that may extend in a horizontal direction (inaddition to the vertical direction), or any combination of thepreceding.

The container 120 may further include a drainage valve 185 coupled tothe stand pipe 180. The drainage valve 185 may be configured to drainthe liquid 160 received in the stand pipe 180. For example, as isdiscussed above, the stand pipe 180 may receive the liquid 160 from thedrain 175, and redirect the liquid 160 in the vertical direction alongthe container body exterior 130. In such an example, the drainage valve185 may be configured to drain this liquid 160 received and redirectedin the vertical direction by the stand pipe 180. Furthermore, thedrainage performed by the drainage valve 185 may result in the drainageof the liquid 160 in the container body interior 135. For example, asthe drainage valve 185 drains the liquid 160 received by the stand pipe180, the stand pipe 180 may be able to receive additional liquid 160from the drain 175, which may be able to drain (or otherwise receive)additional liquid 160 from the container body interior 135. The drainagevalve 185 may be any type of valve that may allow and/or prevent theflow of liquid 160 past the drainage valve 185, thereby allowing and/orpreventing drainage of the liquid 160. Furthermore, the drainage valve185 may be connected to a spigot (or any other drainage apparatus) thatmay allow the liquid 160 to flow out of (or otherwise be drained from)the antimicrobial capture system 115. This spigot (or any other drainageapparatus) may be connected to a waste disposal area (such as awastewater system in the food processing plant) that may dispose of theliquid 160 drained from the antimicrobial capture system 115.

The drainage valve 185 may be located at any position with regard to thecontainer body 125 that may allow the drainage valve 185 to drain theliquid 160. For example, the drainage valve 185 may be coupled to thestand pipe 180 (and thus located) at a position that is at the bottom ofthe container body 125, a position that is at the top of the containerbody 125, a position that is at half of the height 155 of the containerbody 125, or any other position. As another example, the drainage valve185 may be coupled to the stand pipe 180 (and thus located) at aposition that is at approximately the bottom of the container body 125(i.e., the bottom of the container body 125+/−2 inches), a position thatis at approximately the top of the container body 125, a position thatis at approximately half of the height 155 of the container body 125, orat approximately any other position. As a further example, the drainagevalve 185 may be coupled to the stand pipe 185 (and thus located) at aposition that is vertically above the fill height 150 of the containerbody 125. As is discussed above, the fill height 150 may refer to theheight to which the carbon granules 145 may fill the container bodyinterior 135. As such, in particular embodiments, the drainage valve 185may be coupled to the stand pipe 185 (and thus located) at a positionthat is vertically above all of the carbon granules 145 positionedwithin the container body interior 135. In particular embodiments, thisposition may be configured to prevent the drainage valve 185 fromlowering a current level of the liquid 160 in the container bodyinterior 135 below the fill height 150. That is, in particularembodiments, this position may be configured to prevent the drainagevalve 185 from lowering a current level of the liquid 160 in thecontainer body interior 135 below the carbon granules 145 filling thecontainer body interior 135. Therefore, the carbon granules 145 mayremain submerged by the liquid 160. As a further example, the drainagevalve 185 may be coupled to the stand pipe 185 (and thus located) at theliquid level 165. As is discussed above, the liquid level 165 may be anylevel of the liquid 160 that completely submerges the carbon granules145. In particular embodiments, this position may be configured toprevent the drainage valve 185 from lowering a current level of theliquid 160 in the container 135 below the liquid level 165. Therefore,the carbon granules 140 may remain submerged by the liquid 160.

The drainage valve 185 may be operated (opened and/or closed) manuallyand/or automatically. For example, the drainage valve 185 may be coupledto a control apparatus (e.g., a handle, a lever, a pedal, a wheel, abutton, or any other manual control apparatus) that may allow anoperator to manually open (and/or close) the drainage valve 185, causingthe liquid 160 to flow out of a spigot (or any other drainage apparatus)connected to the drainage valve 185. In such an example, the drainagevalve 185 may be manually opened when it has been determined (such asvia testing) that the concentration of the antimicrobials in the liquid160 is at or below a predetermined amount (such as at or below an amountof antimicrobials at which the liquid 160 may be dumped into awastewater system). Furthermore, the drainage valve 185 may be manuallyclosed when it has been determined (such as via testing) that theconcentration of the antimicrobials in the liquid 160 is above apredetermined amount (such as above an amount of antimicrobials at whichthe liquid 160 may be dumped into a wastewater system). As anotherexample, the drainage valve 185 may be coupled to a timing system (notshown) that may allow the drainage valve 185 to be operatedautomatically and/or manually.

The drainage valve 185 may be operated at any time. For example, thedrainage valve 185 may be closed for a predetermined amount of timeafter any portion of the antimicrobial composition is added to thecontainer 120. This predetermined amount of time may be any amount oftime, such as, for example, 10 minutes, 20 minutes, a half hour, anhour, 1.5 hours, 2 hours, 3 hours, 6 hours, a half day, a day, 2 days, 3days, a week, or any other amount of time. In particular embodiments,this may prevent the drainage valve 185 from draining any of the liquid160 within the predetermined amount of time after a most recent portionof the antimicrobial composition is added to the container 120. As such,if the predetermined amount of time is 1 hour, the drainage valve 185may be prevented (by the timing system, for example) from draining anyof the liquid 160 within the 1 hour after the most recent portion of theantimicrobial composition is added to the container 120. In particularembodiments, the predetermined amount of time for which the drainagevalve 185 is closed may be based on the concentration of antimicrobialsin the liquid 160. For example, the predetermined amount of time forwhich the drainage valve 185 is closed may be selected as an amount oftime it may take the carbon granules 145 to remove enough antimicrobialsto drop the concentration of antimicrobials in the liquid 160 below apredetermined amount (such as a concentration amount of antimicrobialsat which the liquid 160 may be dumped into a wastewater system).Furthermore, once the drainage valve 185 has been opened, the drainagevalve 185 may remain open for a predetermined amount of time. Forexample, the drainage valve 185 may remain open for 1 minute, 2 minutes,5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes, 25 minutes, 30 minutes,35 minutes, 40 minutes 45 minutes, 50 minutes, 55 minutes, an hour, 1.5hours, 2 hours, or any other time period.

As another example, the drainage valve 185 may be closed and opened inaccordance with a particular schedule. This schedule may be anyschedule, such as closed for 1 hour and open for 10 minutes, closed for1.5 hours and open for 10 minutes, closed for 2 hours and open for 10minutes, closed for 3 hours and open for 10 minutes, closed for 1 hourand open for 15 minutes, closed for 1.5 hours and open for 15 minutes,closed for 2 hours and open for 15 minutes, closed for 3 hours and openfor 15 minutes, closed for 1 hour and open for 20 minutes, closed for1.5 hours and open for 20 minutes, closed for 2 hours and open for 20minutes, closed for 3 hours and open for 20 minutes, closed for at least1 hour and open for less than 30 minutes, closed for at least 1.5 hoursand open for less than 30 minutes, closed for at least 2 hours and openfor less than 30 minutes, closed for at least 1 hour and open for lessthan 20 minutes, closed for at least 1.5 hours and open for less than 20minutes, closed for at least 2 hours and open for less than 20 minutes,closed for at least 1 hour and open for less than 15 minutes, closed forat least 1.5 hours and open for less than 15 minutes, closed for atleast 2 hours and open for less than 15 minutes, or any other schedule.

As a further example, the drainage valve 185 may be closed and/or openedin accordance with monitoring of the concentration of antimicrobials inthe liquid 160. In such an example, one or more sensors may be locatedwithin the container body interior 135 (or at any other location) tomonitor the concentration of antimicrobials in the liquid 160. When themonitoring indicates that the level of antimicrobials is at or below apredetermined amount (such as at or below an amount of antimicrobials atwhich the liquid 160 may be dumped into a wastewater system), thedrainage valve 185 may be opened so as to drain the liquid 160.Furthermore, when the monitoring indicates that the level ofantimicrobials is above a predetermined amount (such as above an amountof antimicrobials at which the liquid 160 may be dumped into awastewater system), the drainage valve 185 may be closed so as toprevent drainage of the liquid 160. As another example, the drainagevalve 185 may be closed and/or opened at random.

Although the container 120 has been described above as including drain175, stand pipe 180, and drainage valve 185 for draining liquid 160, inparticular embodiments, a valve and spigot may alternatively (oradditionally) be coupled directly to one or more sides of the containerbody 125 for draining liquid 160 directly from the container body 125.In such embodiments, the valve and spigot may be coupled to the side ofthe container body 125 (and thus located) at a position that is at thebottom of the container body 125, a position that is at the top of thecontainer body 125, a position that is at half of the height 155 of thecontainer body 125, or any other position. As a further example, thevalve and spigot may be coupled to the side of the container body 125(and thus located) at a position that is vertically above the fillheight 150 of the container body 125. In particular embodiments, thisposition may be configured to prevent the valve and spigot from loweringa current level of the liquid 160 in the container body interior 135below the carbon granules 145 filling the container body interior 135.Therefore, the carbon granules 145 may remain submerged by the liquid160. As a further example, the valve and spigot may be coupled to theside of the container body 125 (and thus located) at the liquid level165. In particular embodiments, this position may be configured toprevent the drainage valve 185 from lowering a current level of theliquid 160 in the container body 125 below the liquid level 165.Therefore, the carbon granules 140 may remain submerged by the liquid160.

The container 120 may further include a sample valve 190 coupled to thestand pipe 180. The sample valve 190 may be configured to provide asample of the liquid 160 for testing of the concentration of theantimicrobials in the liquid 160. For example, as is discussed above,the stand pipe 180 may receive the liquid 160 from the drain 175, andredirect the liquid 160 in the vertical direction along the containerbody exterior 130. In such an example, the sample valve 190 may beconfigured to drain a portion of this liquid 160 received and redirectedin the vertical direction by the stand pipe. This portion of the liquid160 may be used to test the concentration of the antimicrobials in theliquid 160. For example, this portion of the liquid 160 may be used totest the concentration of the remaining antimicrobials in the liquid 160(e.g., the concentration of the antimicrobials that have not beenremoved from the antimicrobial composition by the carbon granules 145).The sample valve 190 may be any type of valve that may allow and/orprevent the flow of liquid 160 past the sample valve 190, therebyallowing and/or preventing drainage of the liquid 160. Furthermore, thesample valve 190 may be connected to a spigot (or any other drainageapparatus) that may allow the liquid 160 to flow out of (or otherwise bedrained from) the antimicrobial capture system 115. An operator of theantimicrobial capture system 115 may collect the sample of the liquid160 using the sample valve 190, and may test the liquid 160 (or causethe liquid 160 to be tested). In particular embodiments, the samplevalve 190 may be coupled to one or more sensors that may automaticallytest the liquid 160.

The sample valve 190 may be configured to provide any amount of theliquid 160 for testing. For example, the sample valve 190 may provideone or more drops of the liquid 160, a teaspoon of the liquid 160, atablespoon of the liquid 160, a cup of the liquid 160, a liter of theliquid 160, a gallon of the liquid 160, or any other amount of theliquid 160. The sample valve 190 may be located at any position withregard to the container body 125 that may allow the sample valve 190 toprovide a sample of the liquid 160. For example, the sample valve 190may be coupled to the stand pipe 180 (and thus located) at a positionthat is at the bottom of the container body 125, a position that is atthe top of the container body 125, a position that is at ½ of the height155 of the container body 125, a position that is at ¼ of the height 155of the container body 125, or any other position. As another example,the sample valve 190 may be coupled to the stand pipe 180 (and thuslocated) at a position that is at approximately the bottom of thecontainer body 125 (i.e., the bottom of the container body 125+/−2inches), a position that is at approximately the top of the containerbody 125, a position that is at approximately ½ of the height 155 of thecontainer body 125, a position that is at approximately ¼ of the height155 of the container body 125, or at approximately any other position.As another example, the sample valve 190 may be coupled to the standpipe 180 (and thus located) at a position that is vertically below thedrainage valve 185. In such an example, if the drainage valve 185 iscoupled to the stand pipe 180 (and thus located) at a position that isvertically above approximately ½ of the height 155 of the container body125, the sample valve 190 may be coupled to the stand pipe 180 at anyposition that is at or vertically below the approximately ½ of theheight 155 of the container body 125 (such as at a position that is atapproximately ¼ of the height 155 of the container body 125).

The sample valve 190 may be operated (opened and/or closed) manuallyand/or automatically. For example, the sample valve 190 may be coupledto a control apparatus (e.g., a handle, a lever, a pedal, a wheel, abutton, or any other manual control apparatus) that may allow anoperator to manually open (and/or close) the sample valve 190, causingthe liquid 160 to flow out of a spigot (or any other drainage apparatus)connected to the sample valve 190. In such an example, the sample valve190 may be manually opened at any time testing of the liquid 160 isdesired. As another example, the sample valve 190 may be coupled to atiming system (not shown) that may allow the sample valve 190 to beoperated automatically and/or manually. The sample valve 190 may beoperated at any time. For example, the sample valve 190 may be operated(e.g., opened to provide a sample) at a predetermined amount after anyportion of the antimicrobial composition is added to the container 120.This predetermined amount of time may be any amount of time, such as,for example, 10 minutes, 20 minutes, a half hour, an hour, 1.5 hours, 2hours, 3 hours, 6 hours, a half day, a day, 2 days, 3 days, a week, orany other amount of time. As another example, the sample valve 190 maybe operated (e.g., opened to provide a sample) at a predetermined amountof time before any liquid 160 is scheduled to be drained from thecontainer 120. This predetermined amount of time may be any amount oftime, such as, for example, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes, a halfhour, an hour, 1.5 hours, 2 hours, 3 hours, 6 hours, a half day, a day,2 days, 3 days, a week, or any other amount of time before any liquid160 is scheduled to be drained from the container 120. In particularembodiments, this may allow the liquid 160 to be tested prior to ascheduled drainage of the liquid 160. If the liquid 160 does not passthe test, the scheduled drainage of the liquid 160 may be postponed orrescheduled. As a further example, the sample valve 190 may be operated(e.g., opened to provide a sample) in accordance with a particularschedule. This particular schedule may be any schedule, such as openedfor a sample every 1 hour, every 1.5 hours, every 2 hours, every 2.5hours, every 3 hours, every 6 hours, every half of a day, every day, orany other amount of time.

The container 120 may further include a container lid 140 coupled to thedrum body 125. The container lid 140 may be configured to seal thecontainer 120. For example, the container lid 140 may be configured toseal the container 120 so as to prevent liquid 160 and/or carbongranules 145 from exiting (or being removed from) the container 120through the top of the container 120. The container lid 140 may be anytype of lid, may have any shape, and/or may have any size for sealingthe container 120. The container lid 140 may be coupled to the drum body125 in any manner. For example, the container lid 140 may be coupled tothe drum body 125 using one or more hinges (which may allow thecontainer lid 140 to swing open and/or shut), one or more fasteners(e.g., nails, screws), one or more adhesives, one or more clips, anyother manner of coupling the container lid 140 to the drum body 125, orany combination of the preceding. The container lid 140 may be removablycoupled to the drum body 125. For example, although the container lid140 may seal the container 120, the container lid 140 may further bedetached from the container body 125 (e.g., a pin in the hinge couplingthe container lid 140 to the container body 125 may be removed so as todetach the container lid 140 from the container body 125). In particularembodiments, this may allow a different lid (or top) to be coupled tothe container body 125. For example, prior to shipping the container 120to a different location (e.g., to be filled with new carbon granules145), a shipping lid may be coupled to the container body 125 to sealthe container 120 for shipment.

The container lid 140 may include one or more inlets 195 (an example ofwhich is illustrated in FIGS. 3D and 3E) for receiving the antimicrobialcomposition. An inlet 195 may be any type of opening in the containerlid 140 that may allow the antimicrobial composition to be received intothe container body interior 135. For example, the inlet 195 may be ahole extending through the container lid 140, a pipe extending throughthe container lid 140, a fitting (such as a quick connect fitting for ahose, for example) that extends through the container lid 140, any othertype of opening in the container lid 140, or any combination of thepreceding. As illustrated in FIGS. 3D and 3E, the inlet 195 may be aquick connect fitting that may allow the antimicrobial composition to bereceived into the container body interior 135. A supply line (such aswan inlet hose) may be connected (or otherwise coupled) to the quickconnect fitting, and the antimicrobial composition may be pumped (orotherwise flow) through the quick connect fitting and into the containerbody interior 135. In such an example, the supply line may be configuredto direct the antimicrobial composition into the container body interior135 through the inlet 195. An example of a supply line may include (orbe coupled to) the capture line 60 and/or the drain line 104 of FIG. 1.The inlet 195 may have any size and/or shape. For example, the inlet 195may be sized to be coupled to a supply line with a 1 inch outerdiameter, a 2 inch outer diameter, a 3 inch outer diameter, or any othersized outer diameter. Furthermore, the container lid 140 may include anynumber of inlets 195, such as one inlet 195, two inlets 195, threeinlets 195, five inlets 195, or any other number of inlets 195.

The container lid 140 may include one or more vents 200 (an example ofwhich is illustrated in FIGS. 3D and 3E) positioned in the container lid140. A vent 200 may be configured to vent air (or any other gas) fromthe container body interior 135. In particular embodiments, the vent 200may reduce (or at least partially prevent) swelling of the container120, and may further allow for air displacement when antimicrobialcomposition is being added to the container 120. The vent 200 mayfurther be configured to allow air (or any other gas) to enter thecontainer body interior 135. The vent 200 may be any type of opening inthe container lid 140 that may allow air (or any other gas) to exitand/or enter the container body interior 135. For example, the inlet 195may be a hole extending through the container lid 140, a pipe extendingthrough the container lid 140, any other type of opening in thecontainer lid 140, or any combination of the preceding. As illustratedin FIGS. 3D and 3E, the vent 200 may be a pipe that extends through thecontainer lid 140. The vent 200 may have any size and/or shape. Forexample, the vent 200 may have a 0.5 inch diameter, a 1 inch diameter, a1.5 inch diameter, a 2 inch diameter, a 3 inch diameter, or any othersized diameter. As another example, the vent 200 may be shaped to directthe air through the container lid 140, and then redirect the airdownward towards the top of the container lid 140, as is illustrated inFIG. 3D. The container lid 140 may include any number of vents 200, suchas one vent 200, two vents 200, three vents 200, five vents 200, atleast one vent 200, at least two vents 200, at least three vents 200,less than five vents 200, less than three vents 200, or any other numberof vents 200.

The container lid may 140 may further include one or more liquid levelsensors 205 (an example of which is illustrated in FIGS. 3D and 3E)coupled to the container lid 140. A liquid level sensor 205 may beconfigured to sense the current level of the liquid 160 within thecontainer body interior 135. The liquid level sensor 205 may include anytype of sensor that may sense a current level of the liquid 160, such asa float valve, a magnetic reed switch-based float, a solid-stateelectro-optical liquid level sensor, a conductivity-based liquid levelsensor, a capacitive liquid level sensor, an ultrasonic liquid levelsensor, a piezo-resonant liquid level sensor, any other type of sensorthat may sense a current level of the liquid 160, or any combination ofthe preceding. The liquid level sensor 205 may be positioned entirelywithin the container body interior 135. Furthermore, the liquid levelsensor 205 may be positioned partially within the container bodyinterior 135. In such an example, a portion of the liquid level sensor205 may be positioned outside of the container 120, and may supply powerand/or communicate signals to and from the portion of the liquid levelsensor 205 positioned within the container body interior 135.

The liquid level sensor 205 may also be configured to provide (ortransmit) a signal with regard to the sensed current level of the liquid160. For example, the liquid level sensor 205 may be configured toprovide a continuous or periodical signal (e.g., every 10 minutes)indicating the current level of the liquid 160 (e.g., the signal mayindicate that the liquid 160 is at 66% of the height 155 of thecontainer body 125). As another example, the liquid level sensor 205 maybe configured to provide a warning signal when the current level of theliquid 160 within the container body interior 135 exceeds (or is at) apredetermined level. The predetermined level may be any level of theliquid 160. For example, the predetermined level may be a level thatcauses the liquid to be at 60% of the height 155 of the container body125, 70% of the height 155 of the container body 125, 80% of the height155 of the container body 125, 95% of the height 155 of the containerbody 125, 99% of the height 155 of the container body 125, or any otherportion of the height 155 of the container body 125. As another example,the predetermined level may be a level that cause the container bodyinterior 135 to be 60% full, 70% full, 80% full, 90% full, 95% full, 99%full, or any other percentage (or portion) regarding capacity. Thewarning signal may be audible and/or visual. Additionally, the warningsignal may prevent any additional liquid (such as antimicrobialcomposition) from being added to the container 120 until the warningsignal is stopped (such as by draining a portion of the liquid 160). Forexample, the warning signal may automatically close off the inlet 195until the warning signal is stopped. The warning signal may alsoautomatically cause drainage of the liquid 160. For example, the warningsignal may automatically open the drainage valve 185, causing the liquid160 to drain until the warning signal is stopped.

Example Operation of the Antimicrobial Capture System

In an example embodiment of operation, it may be desirable to removeantimicrobials from an antimicrobial composition, such as theantimicrobial composition discussed above with regard to FIGS. 1-3. Forexample, it may be desirable to remove antimicrobials from anantimicrobial composition used in food processing, such as anantimicrobial composition applied to poultry carcasses. In order to doso, a container may be received. The container may be any containerconfigured to remove antimicrobials from an antimicrobial composition,such as container 120 discussed above. The container 120 may be receivedin any manner. For example, the container 120 may be received bypurchasing the container 120, building the container 120, forming thecontainer 120, receiving a shipment of the container 120, accessing thecontainer 120, moving the container 120, or any other manner ofreceiving the container 120. The container 120 may be received by anyentity. For example, the container 120 may be received by an entity thatdesires to remove antimicrobials from an antimicrobial composition. Insuch an example, the entity may be, for example, a food processing plantthat may be applying the antimicrobial composition to one or more fooditems, such as poultry carcasses. The container 120 may be received inany form. For example, the container 120 may be received already havingone or more (or all) of the elements described above, such as, forexample, the container lid 140, the carbon granules 145, the agitator170, the drain 175, the stand pipe 180, the drainage valve 185, and/orthe sample valve 190. As another example, the container 120 may notalready include one or more (or all) of the elements described above. Insuch an example, one or more of the elements may be added to thecontainer 120 after the container 120 is received, such as, for example,the container lid 140, the carbon granules 145, the agitator 170, thedrain 175, the stand pipe 180, the drainage valve 185, and/or the samplevalve 190.

Following reception of the container 120, the container body interior135 may be filled with an initial liquid. The initial liquid may be anytype of liquid that may be used in the removal of antimicrobials from anantimicrobial composition. For example, the initial liquid may be water,such as potable water. In particular embodiments, the initial liquid maybe all, a portion, or none of the liquid 160. Furthermore, the amount ofinitial liquid in the liquid 160 may change over time. The containerbody interior 135 may be filled with the initial liquid in any manner.For example, a hose (or any other liquid supply conduit) may be insertedinto the container body interior 135, and the container body interior135 may be filled with the initial liquid using the hose. As anotherexample, a hose (or any other liquid supply conduit) may be coupled toan inlet 195 positioned in the container lid 140, and the container bodyinterior 135 may be filled with the initial liquid through the inlet195. The container body interior 135 may be filled with any amount ofthe initial liquid. For example, the container body interior 135 may befilled with an initial liquid to at least a level (such as liquid level165) that completely submerges each of the carbon granules 145 withinthe container body interior 135. In particular embodiments, this mayextend the useful life of the carbon granules 145 by, for example,reducing (or at least partially preventing) the carbon granules 145 fromdrying out and/or reducing (or at least partially preventing) channelingof the carbon granules 145, as is discussed above. Although thecontainer body interior 135 may be filled with the initial liquidfollowing reception of the container 120, the container body interior120 may be filled with all (or a portion) of the initial liquid prior to(or at the same time as) the reception of the container 120. Forexample, the container 120 may be filled with the initial liquid by, forexample, a carbon granule seller, and then shipped to another entity,such as, for example, a food processing plant, for reception by theentity.

Following the filling of the container body interior 135 with theinitial liquid, an antimicrobial composition may be added to thecontainer body interior 135. The antimicrobial composition may includeone or more antimicrobials. An antimicrobial may be any type ofantimicrobial for treating (or otherwise being applied to) work pieces20 (such as, for example, poultry carcasses). For example, theantimicrobial may be a quaternary ammonium compound, an alkylpyridiniumchloride, a cetylpyridinium chloride, any other antimicrobial fortreating (or otherwise being applied to) work pieces 20, or anycombination of the preceding. In particular embodiments, theantimicrobial composition may be all, a portion, or none of the liquid160. Furthermore, the amount of antimicrobial composition in the liquid160 may change over time.

The antimicrobial composition may be added to the container bodyinterior 135 in any manner. For example, a hose (or any other liquidsupply device) may be coupled to an inlet 195 positioned in thecontainer lid 140, and the antimicrobial composition may be added to thecontainer body interior 135 through the inlet 195 using the hose. Theantimicrobial composition may be received in the container body interior135 in any manner from any source of antimicrobial composition. Forexample, the antimicrobial composition may be received from anantimicrobial application system 12 and/or an antimicrobial recyclesystem 14, as is discussed above with regard to FIGS. 1-2. In such anexample, the antimicrobial composition may be discarded portions of theantimicrobial composition that may be dumped from one or more of theantimicrobial application system 12 or the antimicrobial recycle system14 after a period of time, such as at the end of the day. In particularembodiments, the antimicrobial composition may include (or carry)biological components of the work pieces 20 being treated with theantimicrobial composition. For example, the antimicrobial compositionmay include (or carry) liquefied fat (or other portions of effluent)from poultry carcasses to which the antimicrobial composition has beenapplied. In particular embodiments, the antimicrobial composition addedto the container body interior 135 may have a particular temperature.For example, the antimicrobial composition may be at least 55 degreesCelsius or at least approximately 55 degrees Celsius (i.e., 55 degreesCelsius+/−5 degrees Celsius). In particular embodiments, such atemperature of the antimicrobial composition may prevent the biologicalcomponents (such as, for example, chicken poultry fat) in the discardedantimicrobial composition from solidifying, which could hinder theremoval of the antimicrobials from the antimicrobial composition. Inparticular embodiments, the system 10 of FIG. 1 (or any other systemthat includes or is coupled to the antimicrobial capture system 115) mayinclude one or more heaters to heat the temperature of the antimicrobialcomposition to at least 55 degrees Celsius or at least approximately 55degrees Celsius. In particular embodiments, the room temperature inwhich the system 10 of FIG. 1 (or any other system) is operating (or inwhich a portion of the system 10 or a portion of any other system isoperating) may be kept at a temperature that may allow the temperatureof the antimicrobial composition to be at least 55 degrees Celsius or atleast approximately 55 degrees Celsius.

The antimicrobial composition added to the container body interior 135may include any amount of antimicrobial composition. For example, theamount of antimicrobial composition added to the container body interior135 may include all or a portion of the antimicrobial composition dumpedfrom the antimicrobial application system 12 and/or the antimicrobialrecycle system 14. In particular embodiments, the amount ofantimicrobial composition added to the container body interior 135 maybe an amount that causes the liquid 160 to be at 60% of the height 155of the container body 125, 70% of the height 155 of the container body125, 80% of the height 155 of the container body 125, 95% of the height155 of the container body 125, 99% of the height 155 of the containerbody 125, or any other portion of the height 155 of the container body125. In particular embodiments, the amount of antimicrobial compositionadded to the container body interior 135 may be an amount that causesthe container body interior 135 to be 60% full, 70% full, 80% full, 90%full, 95% full, 99% full, or any other percentage (or portion) regardingcapacity. In particular embodiments, liquid level sensor 205 may sense acurrent level of the liquid 160, and may provide (or transmit) a signalwith regard to the sensed current level of the liquid 160, such as awarning signal when the current level of the liquid 160 within thecontainer body interior 135 exceeds (or is at) a predetermined level.Such a warning signal may prevent additional antimicrobial compositionfrom being added to the container body interior 135 and/or causedrainage of the liquid 160 from the container body interior 135.

The antimicrobial composition may be added to the container bodyinterior 135 at any time. For example, the antimicrobial composition maybe added to the container body interior 135 randomly, periodically,and/or continuously. As another example, the antimicrobial compositionmay be added to the container body interior 135 whenever desired. Theantimicrobial composition may be added at the end (and/or beginning) ofa predetermined amount of time. The predetermined amount of time may beany amount of time. For example, the predetermined amount of time may be10 minutes, 20 minutes, a half hour, an hour, 1.5 hours, 2 hours, 3hours, 6 hours, 8 hours, a half day, a day, 2 days, 3 days, a week, orany other amount of time. As another example, the predetermined amountof time may be the beginning of a work shift, the end of a work shift,the middle of a work shift, the beginning of a day, the end of the day,the middle of the day, or any other amount of time. Although theantimicrobial composition has been described above as being added to thecontainer body 125 following the filling of the container body interior135 with the initial liquid, all or a portion of the antimicrobialcomposition may be added to the container body interior 135 prior to (orat the same time as) the filling of the container body interior 135 withthe initial liquid. For example, a portion of antimicrobial compositionmay be included in the initial liquid.

Following the addition of the antimicrobial composition to the containerbody interior 135, at least a portion of the plurality of carbongranules 145 may be agitated. The carbon granules 145 may be agitated inany manner. For example, the carbon granules 145 may be agitated usingthe agitator 170. In such an example, the agitator 170 may be activatedin order to agitate the carbon granules 145, such as by producing airbubbles in the liquid 160 in order to agitate the carbon granules 145.In particular embodiments, this may reduce (or at least partiallyprevent) blinding and/or reduce (or at least partially prevent)channeling of the carbon granules 145, as is discussed above. The carbongranules 145 may be agitated at any time, and for any amount of time, asis discussed above with regard to FIG. 3. For example, the carbongranules 145 may be agitated for approximately 10 minutes after theantimicrobial composition is added to the container body interior 135,and/or the carbon granules 145 may be agitated for approximately 10minutes prior to a portion of the liquid 160 being drained from thecontainer 120 through the drainage valve 185. Although the carbongranules 145 have been described above as being agitated following theaddition of the antimicrobial composition to the container body interior135, the carbon granules 145 may be agitated prior to (or at the sametime as) the addition of the antimicrobial composition into thecontainer body interior 135. For example, the carbon granules 145 may beagitated while antimicrobial composition is being added into thecontainer body interior 135.

Following the addition of the antimicrobial composition to the containerbody interior 135, a portion of the liquid 160 may be drained from thecontainer body interior 135. The portion of the liquid 160 may bedrained from the container body interior 135 in any manner. For example,a portion of the liquid 160 may be drained from the container bodyinterior 135 using the drainage valve 185. In particular embodiments,the liquid 160 may be drained from the container body interior 135because the concentration of the antimicrobials in the liquid 160 is ator below a predetermined amount (such as at or below an amount ofantimicrobials at which the liquid 160 may be dumped into a wastewatersystem). As a result, the liquid 160 may not need to be disposed of in aspecial manner. Instead, the liquid 160 may be disposed of, inparticular embodiments, directly into the wastewater system of a plant,which may reduce the costs associated with disposal of the liquid 160.The liquid 160 may be drained from the container body interior 135 atany time, and for any period of time, as is discussed above with regardto FIG. 3. In particular embodiments, although a portion of the liquid160 may be drained from the container body interior body 135, a currentlevel of the liquid 160 may remain at least at a level that completelysubmerges each of the carbon granules 145. As such, the carbon granules145 may remain submerged in the liquid 160 throughout operation of theantimicrobial capture system 115, in particular embodiments.

In particular embodiments, prior to the portion of the liquid 160 beingdrained from the container body interior 135 using, for example, thedrainage valve 185, a sample portion of the liquid 160 may be drainedfrom the container body interior 135 for testing of the concentration ofthe remaining antimicrobials in the liquid 160, as is discussed abovewith regard to FIG. 3. This may allow an operator of the container 120to determine whether it is proper to drain the liquid 160 from thecontainer body interior 135. Furthermore, this may further allow anoperator of the container 120 to determine whether the carbon granules145 are still removing antimicrobials from the antimicrobialcomposition. For example, if the antimicrobial composition has beensubmerging the carbon granules 145 for a predetermined amount of time(such as, for example 2 hours) and the composition of antimicrobials inthe liquid 160 is still too high, it may be determined (based on a testof the sample portion of liquid 160) that the carbon granules 145 are nolonger capable of removing a sufficient amount of antimicrobials (e.g.,the carbon granules 145 may be past their useful life).

In particular embodiments, following a determination that the carbongranules 145 may no longer be removing the antimicrobials from theantimicrobial composition, the carbon granules 145 may be recycled in amanner that may provide various advantages. For example, the carbongranules 145 may be removed from the container 120, and then the carbongranules 145 may be reanimated, so that they may be used again. Inparticular embodiments, such a recycling method may reduce the costsassociated with the carbon granules 145. For example, instead of anentity having to pay for the disposal of the carbon granules 145 (as maybe required by typical carbon capture systems), the reanimated carbongranules 145 (or carbon granules 145 capable of being reanimated) may betraded in to (or sold back to) a carbon supplier, thereby reducing costsassociated with antimicrobial capture systems. The carbon granules 145may be reanimated in any manner. As one example, the carbon granules 145may be incinerated at a temperature of approximately 900 degrees Celsius(900 degrees Celsius+/−50 degrees Celsius), approximately 875 degreesCelsius, approximately 850 degrees Celsius, approximately 925 degreesCelsius, approximately 950 degrees Celsius, at least approximately 900degrees Celsius, or at any other temperature that may reanimate thecarbon granules 145. Once reanimated, the carbon granules 145 may beresold (or otherwise reused) as reanimated carbon.

The recycling of the carbon granules 145 may be performed by an entity,such as a recycler, a carbon seller, the entity using the carbongranules 145 to remove antimicrobials, any other entity, or anycombination of the preceding. In particular embodiments, the container120 including the used carbon granules 145 may be shipped to, forexample, a carbon seller. Such a shipment may involve removing one ormore elements from the container 120. For example, the shipment mayinvolve replacing the container lid 140 with a shipment lid. As anotherexample, the shipment may further involve draining all of the liquid 160from the container 120 (via, for example, an additional drain in thebottom of the container 120, or, as another example, by disconnectingthe stand pipe 180 from the drain 175 and draining the liquid 160 viathe drain 175) prior to shipping the container 120. The carbon seller(or other entity) may receive the shipment, remove the carbon granules145, reanimate the carbon granules 145, and resell (or reuse) the carbongranules 145 as reanimated carbon. Furthermore, the carbon seller may,in particular embodiments, refill the container 120 with new (orrecycled) carbon granules 145, and ship the container 120 back to theentity using the container 120 to remove antimicrobials.

Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the system 10 ofFIGS. 1-2 and/or the antimicrobial capture system 115 of FIGS. 3A-3Ewithout departing from the scope of the invention. For example, thecontainer 120 of the antimicrobial capture system 115 may includesensors for sensing the temperature of the liquid 160 and/or heaters forheating the liquid 160.

This specification has been written with reference to variousnon-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments. However, it will berecognized by persons having ordinary skill in the art that varioussubstitutions, modifications, or combinations of any of the disclosedembodiments (or portions thereof) may be made within the scope of thisspecification. Thus, it is contemplated and understood that thisspecification supports additional embodiments not expressly set forth inthis specification. Such embodiments may be obtained, for example, bycombining, modifying, or reorganizing any of the disclosed steps,components, elements, features, aspects, characteristics, limitations,and the like, of the various non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodimentsdescribed in this specification.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for removing antimicrobialmaterial from a composition, comprising: providing a containercomprising a plurality of carbon elements selected from the groupconsisting of granules, rocks and sheets; submerging the carbon elementswith a liquid; depositing a composition comprising an antimicrobialmaterial in the container, wherein the carbon elements are configured toremove the antimicrobial material from the composition; monitoring andcontrolling a level of the liquid in the container to maintain asubmerged condition of the carbon elements; and draining the liquid fromthe container via a drainage valve to an exterior waste disposal areasuch that the level of the liquid remains at or below a predeterminedlevel in the container and the concentration of the antimicrobialmaterial in the liquid remains above a predetermined concentration;wherein the drainage valve is opened to drain the liquid from thecontainer in response to signals received from a first sensor indicatingthat the level of the liquid in the container exceeds the predeterminedlevel or signals received from a second sensor indicating that theconcentration of the antimicrobial material in the liquid is at or belowthe predetermined concentration.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein theexterior waste disposal area is a wastewater system of a food processingplant.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the antimicrobial material isselected from the group consisting of a quaternary ammonium compound, analkylpyridinium compound and cetylpyridinium chloride.
 4. The method ofclaim 1, wherein at least one of the first sensor and the second sensorincludes one or more of an infrared sensor, a visible light sensor, andan ultraviolet sensor.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the firstsensor includes one or more of an infrared sensor, a visible lightsensor, and an ultraviolet sensor.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein thesecond sensor includes one or more of an infrared sensor, a visiblelight sensor, and an ultraviolet sensor.
 7. The method of claim 1wherein the drainage valve is closed to prevent the drainage of theliquid from the container in response to signals received from the firstsensor indicating that the level of the liquid in the container is at orbelow the predetermined level or signals received from the second sensorindicating that the concentration of the antimicrobial material in theliquid is above the predetermined concentration.
 8. The method of claim1, further comprising: agitating at least a portion of the plurality ofcarbon elements.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality ofcarbon elements are agitated for a predetermined time period to reducechanneling of the plurality of carbon elements in the container.
 10. Themethod of claim 8, wherein the plurality of carbon elements are agitatedby the production of air bubbles in the liquid.
 11. The method of claim1, further comprising monitoring a temperature of the liquid with atemperature sensor.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the temperatureof the liquid is maintained at or above a predetermined temperature,based on signals received from the temperature sensor indicating thetemperature of the liquid being monitored.
 13. The method of claim 1,wherein the container includes a sample valve and the sample valve isconfigured to provide a sample of the liquid for testing of aconcentration of the antimicrobial material in the liquid.